Meet Naoko Tamada

We had the good fortune of connecting with Naoko Tamada and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Naoko, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Sai Zen products were initially created to help my mother combat hair thinning, a struggle she faced for many years. Yet, as fate would have it, she developed Alzheimer’s and dementia, and our close bond began to unravel as she became increasingly aggressive toward me. The woman who had once been my source of love and strength started treating me as though I were an enemy, and my family’s harmony was torn apart. I was consumed by despair, crying daily, and even questioned my will to keep going. The passion I had for this product, born out of love for my mother, began to fade away.

However, through this painful journey, I not only learned about the devastating effects of illness but also about myself. Since losing my father at the age of eight, I watched my mother work tirelessly to support us, and from that moment, I dedicated my life to pursuing her happiness. My life’s purpose had been entirely centered on her joy. But in those challenging days with my mother, for the first time, I began to question, ‘What does happiness mean for me?’ I was forced to reflect and gained the strength to find my independence from her.

Honestly, I considered ending Sai Zen. But hearing the joy and gratitude from our customers and witnessing the transformations that Sai Zen brought into their lives, I knew I couldn’t let them down. When I saw a cancer patient, whose hair had become fragile due to treatment, regain even more vibrant hair than before, I knew from the depths of my heart that Sai Zen was truly something valuable. And above all, I remembered how Sai Zen was the only solution that helped my mother, once tormented by thinning hair, regain her vitality and experience happiness without relying on wigs. Sai Zen is a scalp shampoo made with natural herbs, safe even for those with sensitive skin.

Bringing joy and transformation to people is what I love most. Supporting people to feel youthful, vibrant, and happy is my mission. While I once pursued this for my mother, I now continue it for myself and for the people whose lives are touched by Sai Zen. Cultivating self-love, respect, and spreading happiness around me has become my new passion. I am determined to keep Sai Zen going, driven by the desire to reach and help even more people. This has reignited my spirit and my purpose.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Sai Zen was born from my deep desire to help my mother regain healthy hair. She struggled with thinning hair for years, trying countless hair growth shampoos with no success, and for over a decade, she couldn’t part with her wig. One evening, my mother went to the market across the street to buy milk. She had just showered, wore no makeup, and was in a tracksuit, yet she still put on her wig before stepping outside. Seeing her, I felt her need to protect her dignity as a woman, and it broke my heart. A strong determination took root within me: I wanted to help her grow her hair back.

Then, the shampoo that had worked best for her was suddenly discontinued, making the situation even more difficult. It was a product that many clients at my hair salon also loved, and when it became unavailable, they too began to worry about their hair. Through my experience at the salon offering wigs and scalp massages, I came to understand that the causes of hair thinning are diverse. I wondered if a shampoo that incorporated herbs targeted to these different causes could truly promote hair growth. The three types of hair growth shampoos we carried at the salon each had limitations, such as color fading, lack of volume, or scalp dryness. Based on client feedback, I decided to create a shampoo that could address all these issues.

Sai Zen was created from my wish for an ideal product:
– Promotes hair growth and volume
– Adds shine and strength to hair
– Gentle enough for even a baby’s sensitive skin
– Prevents color fading
– Protects hair from heat damage

With all my heart, I crafted Sai Zen so that my mother and others struggling with thinning hair could regain healthy hair and feel confident and joyful once again. Miraculously, as my mother used this shampoo, her hair grew, gained volume, and she no longer needed a wig. Clients at my salon also began to see improvements and shared their joy, sending me messages of gratitude.

Sai Zen’s shampoo incorporates a holistic method based on Dr. Peter Guy Manners’ Cymatics theory. According to this theory, the vibrations of healthy cells can resonate with and restore unhealthy cells. Using the latest Japanese technology, we have embedded these vibrational frequencies into the shampoo to promote scalp health. This way, Sai Zen contains the necessary energy frequencies to support a healthy scalp.

Sai Zen is a safe, natural scalp shampoo, rich in herbs, created to fulfill the wishes of my mother and many others. I am incredibly proud to offer a product that my beloved mother can use daily with peace of mind and that provides countless others with healthy, youthful hair.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my friends come to visit, I first take them to the beach in Santa Monica. We go to the Santa Monica Pier, then have lunch at The Lobster with an ocean view, enjoying a feast of seafood. Afterward, we go shopping at the 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place. For dinner, we head to Nobu in Malibu to end the day by the sea.

On the second day, we have lunch at the Farmers Market at The Grove, where we enjoy various unique and local foods. We spend the afternoon shopping at The Grove, watching the dancing fountains, and riding the trolley. We will have a dinner at Cheese Cake Factory.

On the third day, we go to the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and then to Griffith Park. We end the day with dinner in Silver Lake.

On the fourth day, we shop at the Alley and Fashion District, have lunch at the Grand Central Market, and visit the Mirror Rooms at The Broad. Then, we take a walk on Olvera Street and have dinner there, finishing with a musical performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

On the fifth day, we shop and have lunch in Little Tokyo, followed by a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art. In the evening, we watch a Dodgers game, enjoying a classic Dodger dog for dinner.

On the sixth day, we start at Smorgasburg LA and then go cycling at Venice Beach. We shop and have dinner at Abbot Kinney.

On the seventh day, we go shopping in Beverly Hills, with lunch at the Polo Lounge inside the Beverly Hills Hotel. Afterward, we take an open-top bus tour to explore the sights, and for dinner, we choose a beautiful restaurant we find along the way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia, I felt lost, unsure of how to help her or manage the emotional toll. I reached out to a social worker for guidance and joined an Alzheimer’s support group. Listening to the stories of others facing similar struggles brought comfort and understanding, as well as valuable insights on how to approach my mother’s care. But as time went on, my mental health declined. I reached a breaking point, where the weight of it all made me question my will to keep going. Sensing my despair, the social worker recommended a therapist.

In the U.S., therapy is common, but in Japan, it is still a bit of a stigma. I was skeptical at first, wondering if it would even help. Yet, as I sat with my therapist week after week, I felt a powerful shift. My emotions and thoughts began to untangle, and I started to understand myself more deeply. My therapist used insights from psychology, well-known philosophers, and personal experiences to help me see my life from different perspectives. Through these sessions, I gained clarity and came to realize that my core value, my guiding light, is ‘Unconditional Love.’ My family has always been one that deeply loves and serves each other without asking for anything in return, and I saw this was the legacy that shaped me.

I also realized that the acts of kindness and love I showed to my mother were not just for her—they were fulfilling something within myself. I love bringing joy, gratitude, and respect to others. This insight led me to a renewed understanding of my purpose: to continue spreading happiness, health, and confidence through Sai Zen. What began as a product for my mother has now evolved into a mission to help others. I’m grateful that through Sai Zen, I can share nature’s gifts, holistic care, and innovative technology to bring vitality, youthfulness, and happiness to more people. This purpose fills me with renewed passion and gratitude every day.

Website: www.saizenhair.com

Instagram: @saizen.hair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069833311577

Image Credits
Erica Kryger